English Language Arts
Grade 9
15 min
Use in-text citations with MLA formatting
Use in-text citations with MLA formatting
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Correctly format a standard MLA in-text citation for a source with an author and page number.
Differentiate between a direct quote and a paraphrase, and cite both correctly.
Integrate source material into their own writing using signal phrases.
Format an in-text citation for a source with no known author.
Explain the purpose of in-text citations and their connection to the Works Cited page.
Identify and correct common punctuation errors related to in-text citations.
Ever see someone post a great meme without giving credit to the original creator? 🤔 In academic writing, giving credit is a non-negotiable rule that makes your work stronger!
This tutorial will teach you how to use MLA in-text citations, a system for giving credit to sources directly within...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
In-Text CitationA brief reference inside your paper that points the reader to the full source information on your Works Cited page. It's like a signpost telling your reader where you got your information.The author notes that "the world is a stage" (Shakespeare 45).
Parenthetical CitationThe most common type of in-text citation, where the source information (usually author and page number) is placed in parentheses at the end of a sentence.One study found that students who outline their essays perform better (Smith 12).
Signal PhraseA phrase that introduces a quote or paraphrase, often including the author's name. It signals to the reader that you are about to use information from a source.As literary critic Harold Bloom argues, ...
Works Cited Pag...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Author-Page Format
(Author's Last Name Page Number)
This is the standard MLA format. Place the author's last name and the page number where the information was found in parentheses. There is no comma between the name and the number. The period for the sentence goes *after* the closing parenthesis.
Citing a Source with No Author
("Shortened Title of Work" Page Number)
When a source has no listed author, use a shortened, capitalized version of the work's title in quotation marks. If it's a book title, it should be in italics. This title must match the first words of the entry on your Works Cited page.
Using a Signal Phrase
Author's Name in sentence... (Page Number).
If you introduce the source material with a signal phrase that in...
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
A student writes: *The text suggests a deep sense of alienation, as the narrator is "simultaneously enchanted and repelled" (9).* The source is *The Great Gatsby* by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and this is the first time it's cited. Why is this citation technically incorrect or problematic in MLA format?
A.The page number should always be written out as a word.
B.It fails to name the author, making it difficult to find the source on the Works Cited page.
C.The quote is too short to require a citation.
D.The citation should include the publisher's name.
Challenging
Evaluate the following options for citing a paraphrase from page 22 of a book by author Kenji Yoshino. Which option demonstrates the most sophisticated and correct integration of the source material?
A.The idea is that people often feel pressure to conform (Yoshino 22).
B.Kenji Yoshino writes about the pressure many people feel to downplay parts of their identity in professional settings (22).
C.There is pressure to conform in the workplace. (Yoshino, 22).
D.In his book, it says that people feel pressure to conform to mainstream expectations (Yoshino 22).
Challenging
A student sees the in-text citation `("The Psychology of Social Media")` in an essay. Based on the rules in the tutorial, what can be definitively concluded about the source?
A.The source is a book, and the author's name is Psychology.
B.The source is an online video with no page numbers.
C.The source has no known author, and its title begins with "The Psychology of Social Media."
D.The student forgot to include the author's name and page number.
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